Surah at-Tawbah, Chapter 9
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful
“I pray for protection of God, from the Fire of Hell, from injury of infidels, from Divine Wrath. Real Honour is for God, His Prophet and the faith.”
Verses 1 – 29
بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى الَّذِينَ عَاهَدْتُمْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ {1}
1. God and Prophet are exempt from the treaty which you contracted with infidels.
فَسِيحُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّهِۙ
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْزِي الْكَافِرِينَ {2}
2. Therefore, oh infidel, walk (safely) for four months, across the country and think it you are not in any way going to constrain God, and God is sure to degrade the infidels.
وَأَذَانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ بَرِيءٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَۙ
وَرَسُولُهُۚ
فَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْۖ
وَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّهِۗ
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {3}
3. There is a general notification to all men from God and His Prophet on the day of the largest pilgrimage to Mecca in which God and His prophet are exempt from protecting infidels. If you will repent again, it is better for you, and if you turn round, you better note you are not going to constrain God and your Prophet. Give the infidels the news of Great wrath.
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عَاهَدْتُمْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَمْ يُظَاهِرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَتِمُّوا إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ {4}
4. Excepting those of associators with whom you have contracted a treaty, and who have not breached it by helping your enemy against you until its period of expiry, of course God approves the virtuous.
فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۚ
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {5}
5. And when the period of the Holy Months expires, slay the infidels wherever you find them, and arrest them and confine them and hide yourself in every valley, to seize them until they repent and pray and give tithe, and then open the way. Of course, God is mighty at forgiveness and granting mercy.
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۚ
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {6}
6. If anybody among the infidels seeks your shelter, you give him so he may listen to the word of God and send him to his home. It is because these persons are a sect not knowing anything.
كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعِنْدَ رَسُولِهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عَاهَدْتُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِۖ
فَمَا اسْتَقَامُوا لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا لَهُمْۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ {7}
7. How can responsibility lie on God and His Prophet, on behalf of association, except those who contracted a pact near the Holy sanctuary. Therefore, you keep the convent until they keep up to it. Of course, God approves the virtuous.
كَيْفَ وَإِنْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةًۚ
يُرْضُونَكُمْ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ {8}
8. How can it be a reliable pact when they over power you, they neither have regard to your relationship not to the pact. They only want to please you orally and their hearts are turned against you and most of them are disobedient.
اشْتَرَوْا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِهِۚ
إِنَّهُمْ سَاءَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ {9}
9. They accept bribe by misinterpreting God’s couplets and stop people from His path. Of course, it is a very bad policy which they are following.
لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِي مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةًۚ
وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُعْتَدُونَ {10}
10. They will neither regard relationship nor terms of their treaty to the faithful. They are great transgressors.
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِۗ
وَنُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ {11}
11. If they again repent and go on praying and paying tithe, they are your brethren in religion, and We describe Our couplets openly before them who have knowledge.
وَإِنْ نَكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ فَقَاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِۙ
إِنَّهُمْ لَا أَيْمَانَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُونَ {12}
12. If they will breach their vows after contracting them, and taunt you for religion, you also will kill infidels’ leaders, so they abstain. OF course, they do not hold bond of safety from you.
أَلَا تُقَاتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ وَهُمْ بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۚ
أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْۚ
فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَوْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ {13}
13. Do not fight against the sect who breached their treaties and who made up their minds to drive the Prophet and who started the fight against you, do you fear them? If your faithful, know God deserves first that you fear Him.
قَاتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ {14}
14. You fight against them and God will cast on them wrath at your hands and will degrade them and He will help you against them and he will console the hearts of the faithful
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْۗ
وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَشَاءُۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {15}
15. and will remove the grudge of their hearts and will accept the penance of these whom He wants and God is All-knowing and Wise.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تُتْرَكُوا وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِ وَلَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةًۚ
وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ {16}
16. Have you thought that you would be left off though He has not
tested yet integrity of you? Those who have participated in crusade, and except God and His Prophet and the faithful you have accepted anyone in confidence.
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَنْ يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ شَاهِدِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِالْكُفْرِۚ
أُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ {17}
17. It is not permissible for infidels to occupy a mosque of God when they have given evidence of their infidelity. They are those, whose deeds are voided, they will always live in Hell.
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَۖ
فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ {18}
18. They alone are competent to occupy the Holy sanctuary who have faith in God and on the Day of Judgment, and pray regularly and pay tithe and not fear anybody except God. It is hoped of them they might be guided.
أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِۚ
لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِۗ
وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ {19}
19. Have you equalized those who give water to pilgrims and frequent the mosque with those who fought in a crusade for the sake of God? They are not equal before God and God does not guide the disobedient.
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِۚ
وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ {20}
20. Those have highest
grade before God who embraced faith, fled, and fought the crusade in the Name of God, with property, and life. They are to attain salvation.
يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَرِضْوَانٍ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُقِيمٌ {21}
21. Their Providence gives them tidings of mercy of His will and of Paradise
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًاۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ {22}
22. where they shall ever remain. Verily they have a very great reward before God.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا آبَاءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَانَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنِ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْكُفْرَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِۚ
وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ {23}
23. Oh Believers, do not welcome your faithful, your brothers if they approve infidelity in preference to the faithful and those who approve them are really disobedient.
قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۗ
وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ {24}
24. Tell them, if their fathers, sons, brothers, wives and relations, and property, they have collected, and the business the loss of which they are afraid, and buildings built to their choice are dearer to them than God, Prophet and Participation in crusade for God’s sake, await the period of arrival of angel of death, and certainly God does not guide the disobedient.
لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍۙ
وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍۙ
إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنْكُمْ شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُمْ مُدْبِرِينَ {25}
25. Of course, God helped you on many occasions and especially on the battlefield of Hunain,
when a large army of ours made you over confident, which afterwards proved of no use, and in spite of extensive field at your command, you were narrowed down, then you fled.
ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ جُنُودًا لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۚ
وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ {26}
26. Then God consoled His Prophet and truly faithful, and sent such an army, whom you had never seen and punished infidels which thus deserved.
ثُمَّ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَشَاءُۗ
وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {27}
27. Thy God is at liberty to accept penance
of whom so ever He likes and God is Almighty at forgiveness and granting Mercy.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَٰذَاۚ
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ إِنْ شَاءَۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {28}
28. Oh Believers, “It is nothing but associators who are impure. Therefore, they shall not enter the Holy Sanctuary of Mecca after this year. If you are afraid of starvation, later on, If God wills, He will make you independent of them, by His Grace and Mercy, by opening other markets. Of course, God is Almighty at Knowledge and Wise.
قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ {29}
29. Among them are those who have received revealed books who do not believe in God and the Day of Judgment and do not illegalize what God and His Prophet have made unlawful and do not accept Islam as the true Religion. You go on fighting with them so long as they do not give income tax by being disgraced.
Moral
1. God dislikes dishonesty on the part of an infidel prisoner. Hence, honest confession will lead to restoration of lost property and the endowments, provided they embraced faith, forgiving their sins, whereas instances on past practice will lead to Divine Policy of Punishment, besides dispense of justice, as He is Almighty and Omniscient, none can prevent Him from His Disgrace.
2. God has graded the faithful, as per their merits. Those who fled from Mecca to Medina at a cost of loss of property and relations and fought for love for God and Prophet at cost of their life have the highest grade (who can equalize with Ali?) he slept on the Prophet’s bed when the latter fled and later, on the battlefields, God gave an evidence by granting Dhul Fikar, and honour of La Fata-Illah-Ali, simple embracing faith, without flight, counts for nothing, and the Prophet cannot hold out such faithful, responsibility to save their lives.
3. God warns the faithful in which associators about you are friends with one another and be on your guard not to wage a war with them unless you are equally prepared, else it will ultimately result in the world war, and such is the state not also. (Refer to 73 of previous Surah.)
4. Before revelation of the Divine commands regarding heirs, emigrants and shelters were heirs of one another, and this order was later super ceded, except Ali, being a Divine Light.
5. God, through Ali, on largest pilgrimage declared associators, after a lapse of four holy months, as open enemies of God, not to approach Holy Sanctuary of Mecca, subject to imprisonment and killing, save these who sought shelter, and listened to God’s commands and followed the faithful in prayers and payment of tithe, when they would be like brethren, barring these, with when period of convention had not expired, and have not breached it any way, by aiding Muslim enemies against Muslims, whereas those who have neither considerations for blood relationship, nor maintenance of terms of treaty and are bent on driving out the Prophet, be not afraid of them rather fear Me as I am more deserving of it and He will and you by killing them at your hands, and sending them to Hell, thus consoling the faithful hereby.
6. God is not going to admit the faithful to Paradise on their simple embracing faith of Islam without giving a practical successful test to which He will subject them by participation in crusade at the cost of life and property and see if they fear anybody more than Him and bear an affection to their father, sons, wives and relations, if they are infidels or plot against God and Prophet in defeating them, in spite of convent of Ghadir al-Khum.
7. God has decided infidels shall not enter or approach the holy sanctuary of Mecca although they used to set up markets of food provisions. God promises to make this arrangements in the future and today Mecca holds the highest market in the world during pilgrimage. How fully Divine provision has been fulfilled, and there is no anxiety for starvation of residents of Mecca or the Pilgrims. This is also the case for pilgrims visiting shrines of the Holy Immaculates.
Verses 30 – 37
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِۖ
ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُمْ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْۖ
يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُۚ
قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُۚ
أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ {30}
30. And the Jews claimed Ezra was the son of God and the Christians claimed Messiah was the son of God. These are statements of their own making. They are talking alike their preceding infidels; be they damned where are they being misled!
اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًاۖ
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۚ
سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ {31}
31. Leaving God aside, they have admitted learned men and hermits and Messiah son of Mary their Gods, and Messiah did not say so except to worship God as one (Almighty). There is no other God except God, the Almighty, pure is He with what they associate others.
يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ {32}
32. They desire to put down the Divine Lights (religious leaders) with elections of their own and God dislikes it, which He shall fulfill, though infidels dislike it.
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ {33}
33. It is He alone who sent His Prophet duly guided and the right faith so as to overpower other (mutilated) religions although associators dislike it.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِۗ
وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {34}
34. Oh Believers, most of the learned and hermits swallow men’s property on false grounds, preventing them from the right path and those who treasure gold and silver, without spending on God’s path, be given tidings of intense punishment.
يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْۖ
هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ {35}
35. That day, they will be melted down in Hellish fire, with which they shall be branded in their cheeks, their sides and backs, saying, “This is your treasure, you reserved for yourself, hence taste what you treasured up.
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۚ
ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُۚ
فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْۚ
وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةًۚ
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ {36}
36. Verily, the calendar before God, in His text, consists of 12 months, ever since creation of the heavens and the earth, of which four months are holy. This is plain and simple. Do not be disobedient in this matter and fight unitedly against associators as they do against you and know of course, God is with the virtuous.
إِنَّمَا النَّسِيءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْكُفْرِۖ
يُضَلُّ بِهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُحِلُّونَهُ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُ عَامًا لِيُوَاطِئُوا عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُۚ
زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ أَعْمَالِهِمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ {37}
37. It is nothing but deferring of the holy months is transgression due to infidelity of infidels, to gain their booty in warfare, whereby they are further misled in misguidance. They legalize warfare in one year and illegalize in the other, so they may fulfil the number of holy months in a year fixed by God. They legalize what is illegalized by God, their evil acts have been eulogized to them and God does not guide the infidels.
Moral
In this paragraph there is a prognostication of coming of the 12th Light in the future when he will put down all religions, except Islam, and is Resurrection of the Christian faith, actually Jesus will follow the 12th Divine Light and periods thereof will vary.
This was the first (schism) novelty in religions – whereby a holy monthly was made legal to fight for them and the other was rendered holy to suit personal choice and complete the number of holy months. Schisms are disliked in Islam and have been the cause of decay. Crusade against the Divine Light was legalized by the so-called Muslims when this month was illegal for fight even by infidels.
Verses 38 – 42
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انْفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِۚ
أَرَضِيتُمْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِۚ
فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ {38}
38. Oh Believers, “What is up with you?” while you are asked to march on to Divine path, you find it hard to do son Earth. You prefer worldly life to eternity, although worldly life, as compared to eternity is trifling.
إِلَّا تَنْفِرُوا يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْئًاۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {39}
39. If you do not go out with a view to participating in crusade, God shall severely punish you and shall create others after destroying you, and you will not be able to do wrong to Him in any way, because God is Omnipotent.
إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ
فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰۗ
وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَاۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {40}
40. If you do not help the Prophet, verily He help him when He removed him from Mecca (flight to Mecca) to save from cruel hands of infidels from injury of infidels when two of them, the Prophet and his impatient companion, had hidden in a cave (sur) when the Prophet’s companion was consoled by the Prophet not to lament by losing patience, as certainly God was with them and then with an invisible army of spiders and birds covering the cave thus rendering attempts of infidels ineffective, and this establishing Divine Government, which proved successful over pagan tactics, and God is Mighty and Wise.
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِۚ
ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {41}
41. Come out with little or more armour whatever avail, participate in crusade with your property and life for God’s sake. This is better for you if you have common sense.
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُۚ
وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ {42}
42. If the battlefield was near and the journey comfortable, they would have followed you, but the distance proved hard for them, and they began to swear falsely by God saying, “If we had the strength, we would have come out with you.” They have destroyed themselves by false swearing as God knows they are liars.
Moral
In this paragraph, God describes how idle and unwilling were his (Prophet’s) companions to participate in the crusade. When the question of a hot season and distance, without appreciable gift of booty, came to their consideration, whereas God says, their sacrifice in crusade will lead them to paradise, of which they are unaware, whereas the pretenders will suffer both ways for having apparently accompanied the Prophet with a view to getting booty and losing life will get Hell owing to evil intentions and by pleading false excuses on false oaths, some of them kept away from accompanying and were exposed by God for this is an anecdote of the “cave of sur” where Abu Bakr, who followed the Prophet, unarmed, against his (the Prophet’s) will, practically with no good intentions, and when the enemy could not further trace the Prophet’s cave, he was grieved at the event.
His faithfully following the Prophet to Medina, when seeing enemies had approached and asking the Prophet to keep him in front to save his life in the presence to the Prophet’s is clear proof of his being unfaithful and later when he was kept in front and the Prophet seeing the enemy, warned them to desist from giving them chase, failing which he would command Earth to seize them. The ground burst open and persecutors started sinking and cried for help embracing faith on seeing this miracle. The leader tore a piece of his turban and made a banner to march in honour of the Prophet proceeding to Medina.
Verses 43 – 59
عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْكَ لِمَ أَذِنْتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ {43}
43. Right all, God forgave you! Why did you permit them to stay away from the crusade? Else it would have been clear to you who are sincere and who are otherwise.
لَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ {44}
44. Those who believe in God and the Day of Judgment do not ask permission to participate in the crusade with property and life, and God is acquainted with the virtuous.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ {45}
45. Only those who ask, who do not believe in God and the Day of Judgment and their hearts are diseased in which they are rolling in suspicion.
وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا الْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ عُدَّةً وَلَٰكِنْ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ انْبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ {46}
46. Had they any intention to come out, they would have prepared for it, but God disliked their preparation, so He turned them stupefied and asked them to lag behind as lags.
لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُمْ مَا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ {47}
47. Had they come out with you, they would not have done anything except fanning disaffection, and creating discontent, and still with you, there are some of them and God is fully acquainted with the disobedient.
لَقَدِ ابْتَغَوُا الْفِتْنَةَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا لَكَ الْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ {48}
48. They had already spread discontent before, and wanted to upset your scheme of affairs when the truth appeared to them and God overpowered which they disliked.
وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ ائْذَنْ لِي وَلَا تَفْتِنِّيۚ
أَلَا فِي الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُواۗ
وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ {49}
49. And someone among them prays permission, not to force him to distress by participating in the crusade. Beware, they are already landed in distress and Hell has already surrounded the infidels.
إِنْ تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْۖ
وَإِنْ تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُوا قَدْ أَخَذْنَا أَمْرَنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوْا وَهُمْ فَرِحُونَ {50}
50. they feel sorry if success attends you, and if you are involved in calamity they say, “We had realized its results from before” and turned away in pleasure.
قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَاۚ
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ {51}
51. You tell them, “Nothing shall occur, except what God has destined for us, He is our Lord.” The faithful should depend on God.
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِۖ
وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَاۖ
فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ مُتَرَبِّصُونَ {52}
52. Tell them, “What are you waiting to see if one of the two bounties attend on us (either we get booty by killing or get paradise being slain as martyrs)” and we also are waiting to see God punishes you by sending you to hell after death or getting you killed by us at His or at Our hands better you wait we are also waiting of course with you.
قُلْ أَنْفِقُوا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَنْ يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنْكُمْۖ
إِنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ {53}
53. Say spend in the Name of God willingly or unwillingly, it shall not be accepted from you because you are a disobedient sect.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ {54}
54. Nothing prevents acceptance of their spending except they became infidels to God and the Prophet and do not say prayers except under sloth and threat and do not spend except when compelled.
فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْۚ
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ {55}
55. Do not be surprised with their property and children, it is nothing but God desires to punish them in this world and force out their souls, for they are infidels.
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنْكُمْ وَمَا هُمْ مِنْكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ {56}
56. They swear they are with you, they are no more with you. Rather, they are a cowardly sect.
لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ {57}
57. Had they any protection or a cave or a hiding place, they would have rushed towards it.
وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَلْمِزُكَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا مِنْهَا رَضُوا وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطَوْا مِنْهَا إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ {58}
58. And some of them find fault with your charity, and if you pay them they are glad, and if you do not pay them, they are enraged.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّا إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاغِبُونَ {59}
59. Had they been pleased with what God and His Prophet granted them, and had they sad, “God is enough for us,” “God, out of His grace, and His Prophet would grant us, certainly we are an attaché to God.”
This entire paragraph has depicted full characteristics of hypocrites.
Moral
1. God wanted the actions of hypocrites had been manifested as “Abdullaibn Ubi” in ‘Ohod refused to get out of Medina on the Prophet’s suggestion, and proved his hypocrisy, if he had refused them not to accompany him to Tubuk against Greece being hot summer it would have been better. Thus God says, “Those, despite capability, asked their Prophet to keep themselves away from the crusade, are worldly hypocrites, who do not spend in the name of God except under threat, nor are sincere in praying, but sluggish, nor do they like the faithful doing charity.” Thus God leaves them to be stupefied, when they are insincere in there intentions.
Their jog is to fan disaffection and discontent, whereby to upset the Prophet’s plans. They have, by such actions, rendered themselves condemned to hell, their apparent actions being rendered null and void. They are not pleased to see success attending you, and are bragging, if you are subjected to Divine trial, which, in case of the faithful, either leads to worldly prosperity or eternal paradise, and in case of infidels and hypocrites is worldly destruction or eternal condemnation by loss of life or going to hell. The faithful should believe whatever of calamity under trial they are destined, they are bound to face with cheer and patience, where in it is a proof of faith and a certificate of his having passed the Divine test, and excess of property and children with hypocrites, should not be a cause of anxiety for them as it is a forecast for coming disasters when their property will be wasted by their children and they shall meet terrible pangs of death at the hands of the angel of death.
In time of severe trials of crusade, if they had accompanied, they would have hidden themselves as did his (Prophet’s) apparent close companions in Uhud who used to be Cabal frequently, whereas Ali was alone fighting against the infidels with Zulfikar, and the Prophet had lost two of his teeth having fallen in a pit, under (Gabriel’s Protection) they are ready to recover booty and feel sad at not receiving it. Suspicion and not certainty rues them. Compare notes on Couplet 13 a).
Verses 60 – 66
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِۖ
فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {60}
60. It is nothing but the tithe is the right of the poor, helpless, tax collector and whose hearts are to be tended to religion, setting free the prisoner, liquidating debts of debtors, and in preparation for crusade, and those who go on pilgrimage, this is fixed by God and are stranded and God is knowing and wise.
وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌۚ
قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْۚ
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {61}
61. And amongst are those, they say, “The Prophet had wide ears,” and this grieves the Prophet. You tell them, “The ears are good for you,” for he complies with God’s commands and listens to the faithful and are a mercy to the faithful amongst you, and those who grieve for the Prophet have intense punishment for them before God.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَاللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُرْضُوهُ إِنْ كَانُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ {62}
62. They swear by God, they are faithful so you may be pleased with them, whereas God and His Prophet are more entitled in which they should please them by their sincerity, if they are faithful.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ مَنْ يُحَادِدِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَأَنَّ لَهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدًا فِيهَاۚ
ذَٰلِكَ الْخِزْيُ الْعَظِيمُ {63}
63. Did they not understand so much that he who disobeys God and the Prophet is certainly to be condemned to hell wherein shall he permanently live?
يَحْذَرُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ أَنْ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْۚ
قُلِ اسْتَهْزِئُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَا تَحْذَرُونَ {64}
64. They are afraid a chapter be revealed, regarding them, exposing what is in their hearts. Tell them you play mischief and god shall verily expose.
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُۚ
قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ {65}
65. If you ask them they will say they were doing nothing but they were discussing among themselves. Tell them what about God, His couplets and His Prophet you were humbugging.
لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْۚ
إِنْ نَعْفُ عَنْ طَائِفَةٍ مِنْكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَائِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ {66}
66. Do not put forth lame excuses after embracing faith unto Me, you proved yourself an apostate. If We forgive a group amongst you for penance, shall we certainly punish the rest for they were really criminals.
Moral
God has specified distribution of tithe after collection among the poor, helpless, collectors, ignorant hearts, franchise, liquidating debts, crusade and wayfarers in the path of God, then further characteristics of hypocrites are delineated. Their suspicion after embracing faith, and their secrets being oozed out, to their Prophet, through the faithful and God, where to naturally the Prophet should listen, and comply with the commands respectively. God threatens these hypocrites with the hellish punishment for offending His Prophet. Their plotting to murder the Prophet on his return from Tabuk brought about Divine indignation, besides their false pleading to say they are faithful, who, unless are repentant sincerely, shall certainly be punished. Divine Philosophy in not punishing the hypocrites in the lifetime of the Prophet lay in the fact the public at large will agitate by propagating the Prophet, utilizes their services and kills them when indignant, without realizing the Prophet’s cause for indignation is Divine wrath.
Verses 67 – 72
الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍۚ
يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنْكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْۚ
نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْۗ
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ {67}
67. Hypocrites, men and women, are friends to one another and they suggest evil and prevent good, and are miserly. They do not bear God in view and God shall forget them in eternity by not rewarding them at all. Verily, hypocrites are ill-natured.
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ
هِيَ حَسْبُهُمْۚ
وَلَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُۖ
وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُقِيمٌ {68}
68. God has promised the hypocrites men and women and infidels the lowest grade of Hell, wherein they shall ever abide, that is, the reward. God has cursed them and for them is intense punishment.
كَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَالًا وَأَوْلَادًا فَاسْتَمْتَعُوا بِخَلَاقِهِمْ فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِخَلَاقِكُمْ كَمَا اسْتَمْتَعَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ بِخَلَاقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُواۚ
أُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِۖ
وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ {69}
69. Like those who preceded you, who are stronger than you in might and most of them superior to you, in property and children. They enjoyed their share, as you also enjoy yours as they did theirs before you, and gossip as they gossiped, their acts are voided in this world and eternity and they are the sufferers.
أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَصْحَابِ مَدْيَنَ وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتِۚ
أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِۖ
فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ {70}
70. Has not the news of their predecessors, like the sects of Noah, ‘Ad, Thamud, and Abraham and residents of Midian and men of perverted villages come to you? Their prophets came with miracles to warn them against sins, therefore, God did not tyrannize them, rather they brought themselves to ruin.
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍۚ
يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۚ
أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُۗ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {71}
71. And the faithful men and women are friendly to one another, suggest virtue and prevent vices, are constant at prayers and payment of tithe, obeying God and His Prophet they shall have Divine mercy. Of course, God is might and wise.
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍۚ
وَرِضْوَانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُۚ
ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {72}
72. God has promised faithful men and women paradise wherein flow canals and wherein they shall ever reside having fine palaces in paradises of Eden, the highest grade and Divine Will greatest of all and this is a mighty success.
Moral
God has acquainted us with men of equal minds, “enlightened or darkened,” go together, vicious go with ill-natured and virtuous with good natured, and likewise is Hell of lowest grade for hypocrites and paradise of highest grade for the faithful, helping one another in virtues and barring them from vices.
Verses 73 – 80
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَاغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْۚ
وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُۖ
وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ {73}
73. Oh you Prophet, fight against infidels in company of hypocrites exhorting them. Their destination is Hell, a horrible resort.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِسْلَامِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُواۚ
وَمَا نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِۚ
فَإِنْ يَتُوبُوا يَكُ خَيْرًا لَهُمْۖ
وَإِنْ يَتَوَلَّوْا يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِۚ
وَمَا لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ {74}
74. They defend by swearing falsely by God and they did not say verily they made a statement of infidelity and after embracing Islam, they turned infidels and resolved what they could not do, and they turned against God and His prophet because they were enriched out of Divine grace, by getting large booties making them independent of their original profession, instead of being grateful to God and the Prophet. If they did penance, it is good for them, and if they turned back, shall God punish them severely in this world and in Eternity when they shall find none to sympathize with them and assist them on Earth.
وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ {75}
75. Among them some promised to God if they were provided out of Divine grace, they would do charity and be virtuous.
فَلَمَّا آتَاهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ بَخِلُوا بِهِ وَتَوَلَّوْا وَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ {76}
76. And when God showered wealth on him, out of Grace, he became a miser and turned back and began to question (the validity) of (the demand to pay religious tax)
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُ بِمَا أَخْلَفُوا اللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ {77}
77. whereupon We created hypocrisy in his heart until the day he shall meet Us to answer God for having breached the promise and for having told lies.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ {78}
78. What, do they not know, their secrets and open versions are known to God, Who knows secrets of secrets?
الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْۙ
سَخِرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {79}
79. Those who impugn those faithful, who willingly pay tithe and those who do not have (any income) except earned by dint of labour, they laugh at them. God shall laugh at them on the Day of Reckoning when they shall have intense punishment.
اسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِنْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْۚ
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۗ
وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ {80}
80. Whether you pray forgiveness for them or not, even if you do 70 times, God shall never forgive them. This is because they became infidels before God and His Prophet and God does not guide a vicious sect.
Moral
(a) God has commanded waging of war against infidels in company of hypocrites (so long as these hypocrites openly did not enter into war with the prophet and for reasons given heretofore) and as the Prophet, in his lifetime, did not wage war with hypocrites and as the Prophet had said in favour of Ali, “Your fight is my fight” and in favour of Hussain, in similar terms and both these immaculate Divine Lights, after passing away of the Prophet, had to fight against the Kufis and Sham Muslims who were hypocrites, alike infidels, having actually faced their religious leaders. They (Ali and his son Hussain) thus fulfilled the Prophet’s trust, being his true Khalifas.
(b) This was exposed by God when Ali was made the Prophet’s successor in the valley of Khum, seven of the hypocrites, viz. Abu Bakr, Omar, Abdur Rahman ibn Auf, Sa‘ad ibn Abi Vakas, Abu Obaide ibn Jarrah, Salim Maula, and Ibn Hazifa ibn Abi Shoea, swore in the Holy Sanctuary of Mecca. They would not let the Khilafat go to the Hashamite dynasty and later they plotted to kill the Prophet on his return from Tabuk in the Valley of Akbah, and this private talk was revealed by God to the Prophet who called upon them to explain, and they denied it.
(c) This is a case of how love for power and wealth converts man into a hypocrite who shall never be forgiven.
Verses 81 – 89
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنْفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّۗ
قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّاۚ
لَوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ {81}
81. The lags are pleased at sitting behind in their places by disobeying the Prophet and disliking participating in the crusade with property and life and they advise others not to go in summer to the battlefield. Say, “The heat of hell is hotter than the heat of the summer, had you known.”
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا كَثِيرًا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ {82}
82. Laugh little and weep more as a result of your actions.
فَإِنْ رَجَعَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَائِفَةٍ مِنْهُمْ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُلْ لَنْ تَخْرُجُوا مَعِيَ أَبَدًا وَلَنْ تُقَاتِلُوا مَعِيَ عَدُوًّاۖ
إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُمْ بِالْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَاقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْخَالِفِينَ {83}
83. If God returns you a group of these hypocrites who will ask a permission (in future) to accompany you, tell them please do not accompany me at all, and do not fight against the enemy with me. You are pleased to lag (when last I went to Tabuk) so be with the lags.
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۖ
إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ {84}
84. (Oh you Prophet) do not pray forgiveness for any of them if they die, do not stand before their graves forgiveness, verily they had displeased God and His Prophet and they have died a death of the disobedient.
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَأَوْلَادُهُمْۚ
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ {85}
85. Do not be surprised at the property and children (of these hypocrites). It is nothing but God desires punishment at their hands of property and children, for not having spent in the name of God in this world and remove their souls while they are infidels.
وَإِذَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَجَاهِدُوا مَعَ رَسُولِهِ اسْتَأْذَنَكَ أُولُو الطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُوا ذَرْنَا نَكُنْ مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ {86}
86. And when a chapter (surah) is revealed to you demanding belief in God and participation in crusade with His Prophet, the rich among them pray permission from you to leave them and be the lags.
رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ {87}
87. They have been pleased to be with the lags and their hearts have been sealed on account of which they do not understand.
لَٰكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ جَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْۚ
وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُۖ
وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ {88}
88. But the Prophet and the faithful with him who have participated therein with property and life for them are bounties and they are to attain salvation.
أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ
ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {89}
89. God has equipped paradise for them beneath which flow canals wherein they shall ever abide and this is a mighty success.
Moral
God reminds the faithful, hypocrites all (especially the lags) to laugh less in this world and wee more due to the sins they have committed, as there will be no time after death to undo evil thereof, so everyone, wise of his future life, should be busy in undoing wrong, rectifying self and amassing virtues for the future journey, which is destined for everyone. These hypocrites, when they will see, battle is near at hand and a promise of a large booty is foretold, they would accompany or desire to accompany and God has refused permission to them on such occasions.
This is an illegal and unfair intention for which they will be held up in the future. The Prophet was asked not to pray forgiveness for hypocrites, so he never prayed or uttered a couplet leading to forgiveness of the deceased if he was a hypocrite.
Verses 90 – 99
وَجَاءَ الْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۚ
سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {90}
90. And the Bedouin who came to you to take permission to lag and be with the liars who lied before God and the Prophet, intense punishment shall be meted out to them who proved infidels.
لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۚ
مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِنْ سَبِيلٍۚ
وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {91}
91. Neither on the weak, the sick nor on those who cannot afford anything is any objection, provided they are a well-wisher of God and His Prophet. The virtuous are not to blame and God is forgiving and merciful.
وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوْا وَأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا مَا يُنْفِقُونَ {92}
92. Nor on those who came to you with this request, you arrange equipment for them, and you told them, “I have none to spare you,” when they went away in tears in their eyes, out of grief, having none to sacrifice in the Name of God.
إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَاءُۚ
رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {93}
93. Only those are to blame who request permission although rich, but desire to lag with the lag, God had sealed their hearts, of which they are unaware.
يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْۚ
قُلْ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا اللَّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْۚ
وَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {94}
94. They will plead on your return from war, you say, “I am not going to accept your lame excuse for God has already informed me about you” and shortly shall your actions be witnessed by God and His Prophet and you will be presented before the Knower of “secrets and open” when He will inform your acts.
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْۖ
فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْۖ
إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌۖ
وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ {95}
95. Shortly shall they swear, on your return, you be pleased with them. You turn your face away from them, they are unholy creatures and their destination is hell, (which is) their due reward for their actions.
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْۖ
فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ {96}
96. They swear that you be pleased with them, and if you are pleased with them, certainly is not God going to be pleased with a disobedient sect.
الْأَعْرَابُ أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا حُدُودَ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {97}
97. The Bedouins are infidels and hypocrites in the highest degree, and they deserve not to be informed what command God has revealed unto His Prophet, and God is Omnipotent and Wise.
وَمِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنْفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ الدَّوَائِرَۚ
عَلَيْهِمْ دَائِرَةُ السَّوْءِۗ
وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {98}
98. Among the Bedouins are some who consider what they spend in the name of God as tax, and they are awaiting the calamity to fall on you, fatal calamity shall fall on them. God is Hearing and Seeing.
وَمِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنْفِقُ قُرُبَاتٍ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَصَلَوَاتِ الرَّسُولِۚ
أَلَا إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَهُمْۚ
سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِۗ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {99}
99. And among the Bedouins are those who believe in God and the Day of Reckoning, and what they spend in the name of God they take it to attain Divine proximity, and the Prophet’s blessing. Beware, it will be the cause of Divine proximity and God shall soon admit them within His Mercy. Verily, God is forgiving and Merciful.
Moral
God describes the three classes of Bedouins of Arabia during the Prophet’s regime:
1. Who lagged to participate in the crusade and became infidels to befit Divine punishment by telling falsehood before God and His Prophet.
2. Others considered payment of tithe as tax and awaited Divine disaster on His Prophet.
3. Are faithful seeking therein (payment of tithe) Divine Proximity and the Prophet’s blessings. He then exonerates the weak, the sick, and the poor, who have no resources to accompany the long journey to undertake the crusade.
4. He lays blame on the rich who intentionally avoid crusade for luxurious living of the world to put forth lame excuse and then swear falsely to please the Prophet, who even if he was pleased, God would never be pleased with them.
5. They wanted to fan sedition during the absence of the Prophet of going to Tabuk. So, the Prophet, to subdue these rebels, he left Ali behind him at Medina. The hypocrites seizing this opportunity propagated false propaganda against Ali in which the Prophet was displeased with Ali, and this was the reason why he did not take him with himself. Ali went to the Prophet to declare the insurgents had in view when the Prophet said, “Ali, your position near me is that of Aaron to Moses, except the Prophetship ends with me under Divine Wisdom.
6. All our acts are present before God, Prophet, and other Divine Lights, his successors. This should be carefully borne in mind by every faithful and avoid unlawful and advise and support the right cause against false, however mighty it be.
Verses 100 – 110
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًاۚ
ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {100}
100. And God is pleased firstly with the foremost Emigrants of Mecca provided they adhere until death to faith, and did not plot against him (Prophet) by remaining with him in name, and participating nominally in Crusade, watching surreptiously the Prophet’s movements especially when he used to be in closet with Ali, and Ansars (assistants to the refugees) of Medina and lastly, who followed him in virtues, and they are pleased with God, Who has equipped for them paradise, beneath which flow canals, wherein shall they every abide, and this is a mighty success.
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مُنَافِقُونَۖ
وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِۖ
مَرَدُوا عَلَى النِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْۖ
نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْۚ
سَنُعَذِّبُهُمْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ {101}
101. And about you are Arab Bedouins hypocrites and also among the City of Medina, who are steady on hypocrisy. You do not know We know them, so shall We doubly punish them
. Then they shall revert to intense punishment (on the Day of Judgment).
وَآخَرُونَ اعْتَرَفُوا بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {102}
102. And there are some who have mixed virtues and vices, of which they are cognizant, (they are not hypocrites, however) shortly shall God forgive them due to their repentance
. Verily God is forgiving and Merciful.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْۖ
إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {103}
103. Accept their tithe on property and purificate them and thus absolve them and pray forgiveness them, as your praying is a source of relieve (to their hearts) and God is Hearing and Knowing.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَأْخُذُ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ {104}
104. (This is brought about tithe on silver, gold, camel, cow, goat, corn cereal, (e.g. wheat millet, etc.) and fruits dried and fresh grapes). Do they not know, verily God is He, Who accepts penance (if performed duly) of His creatures and accepts charity, and verily God is acceptor of penance and Merciful.
وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَۖ
وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {105}
105. Tell them to act virtuously, God, His Prophet and the faithful (Divine Lights) shall see them and you shall revert on to the knower of secrets and open when He will acquaint you with your deeds.
وَآخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {106}
106. And of them there is some awaiting decision of God asking whether they will be punished by Him or led to acceptance of their penance. God is All-knowing and Wise.
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُۚ
وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَىٰۖ
وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ {107}
107. And those who (hypocrites of Quba) planned a mosque with infidel intentions of injuring (Islam) by causing a faction and barring men from following the right way awaiting misguidance (of Abu Amar) who entered in the field against God and His Prophet (in Uhod and Honain) previously, and although they would swear hard they have no other intentions, except sincere (to serve Islam), but God witnesses they are damned liars.
لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًاۚ
لَمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَقُومَ فِيهِۚ
فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَتَطَهَّرُواۚ
وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ {108}
108. Do not stop there ever. The mosque which is initially founded on piety deserves you should pray there, for there are men who love and desire to be purficated and God loves the purficators.
أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَانْهَارَ بِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَۗ
وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ {109}
109. Is he who has founded his faith on Divine Awe and Will not preferable to one whose faith is founded on the bank of a river likely to be destroyed and thrown into hell? Verily God does not guide the disobedient.
لَا يَزَالُ بُنْيَانُهُمُ الَّذِي بَنَوْا رِيبَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْۗ
وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {110}
110. Ever shall those whose foundation of faith rest on suspicious hearts, keep on unstable
until their hearts are torn asunder (by being killed or death sent them to hell) and God is knowing and wise.
Moral
In the forgoing paragraph God has again classified “man” as in His Glorifying paragraph in the beginning He did:
1. Faithful on whom He has endowed bounties, misguided, those who are infidels including polytheists, atheists and in between. Here He has further subdivided misguided into four sections: weak minded may be insane, idiots, those who have not received guidance.
2. Hoping in God’s Decision on Reckoning Day: they may be further subdivided into (a) may be punished, (b) may be forgiven.
3. Those whose hearts were invited by obligations, etc. and those who have not been steady in faith.
4. Sinful Shias. In another Division according to Divine Lights, Division stands as under:
(a) The faithful to enter paradise without any suffering in hell.
(b) The infidels inclusive of hypocrites to permanently reside in hell of various grades, as per intensity of crime.
(c) The weak minded, whose fate shall be decided on Reckoning Day.
(d) Those condemned to hell punishment.
(e) Those who have been cognizant of their sins. If their virtues exceed their vices, they shall be forgiven, else shall suffer temporary punishment in hell and transition period, after death and before Reckoning Day.
(f) Men of reefs over the bridge having sins equal to virtues to be redeemed under intercession of Divine Lights.
Verses 111 – 118
حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِۚ
وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِۚ
فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِۚ
وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {111}
111. God has purchased from the faithful their lives and property in change of giving them paradise. Therefore, they fight for the sake of God, kill enemies and become martyrs. There is a true promise for them in the Torah and the Bible and the Qur’an. Give tidings of this transaction, which you have made on your fulfilling the promise with God and this is a mighty success.
التَّائِبُونَ الْعَابِدُونَ الْحَامِدُونَ السَّائِحُونَ الرَّاكِعُونَ السَّاجِدُونَ الْآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَالْحَافِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ اللَّهِۗ
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {112}
112. The Penitent, the Glorifying, the early morning risers, the Prostraters on kneels and heels, who order virtues and prevent vices, guard Divine limits and you give tidings of these to the faithful.
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ {113}
113. It is not for the prophet and the faithful to pray forgiveness for the associators, although they be their relations after the fact they be their relations after the fact they have been pointed out they (associators) are inmates of hell.
وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُۚ
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ {114}
114. Abraham’s prayers for forgiveness of his uncle was not put into execution but a promise held out to him, conditionally, and when it was made clear to him he is God’s enemy he avoided him. Verily Abraham was supplicating God and forbearing.
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَاهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ مَا يَتَّقُونَۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ {115}
115. It is not for God to misguide a sect after guiding him, until He points out what is to be avoided by them, verily God is Omniscient.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِۖ
يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُۚ
وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ {116}
116. Verily, the Kingdom of Heaven and earth is for God, He enlivens and He gives death, and there is none for you, without Him, to sympathize or assist.
لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْۚ
إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ {117}
117. Verily God accepted penance through the Prophet of emigrants and assistants who help them in distress,
when they were about to lag some of them by giving them hope. Verily he is considerate and Merciful.
وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَنْ لَا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُواۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ {118}
118. And those, three of them, who disobeyed until the ground about them became difficult to stay and their souls themselves were constrained,
and they felt sure they no refuge except towards Go, then, in their penances were accepted. Verily God is accepting Penance and Merciful.
Moral
1. This is a direct bargain of the faithful with God to obtain paradise, by lending sacrificing property, and life for the sake of God – whether they kill the infidels or die as martyrs at their hands. This promise has been held out to them in Testaments Old and New and Qur’an alike. Note there was no crusade in the time of the Christians and at present, in Islam, too. When the Imam is hidden: crusade here refers to the great crusade against Inner Foe, for object of crusade is to compel God’s enemy to subject to Divine commands, through His Prophet and crusade against inner for, is also forcing foe (i.e. self) the inner instincts to vigours of religious worship, prayers, fast, and payment of tithe, and performance of pilgrimage, as per dictates of “Reason” the inner Prophet of God, by penance and virtues be they men or women, subjecting to religious limits.
2. Praying forgiveness for Associators, even though they be relations is forbidden, and Abraham’s apparent exceptional case is elucidated.
3. This is very important command wherein God distinctly refuses to admit guidance of every sect, unless it avoids what is refrained by Him through His Prophet. In fact, He distinctly says, obedience unto him is obedience to God. How can those who claim precedent in faith on authority of couplet (100) when they have admitted their “offence against Fatima,” daughter of the Prophet, rendering themselves apostate, denying the rights of Ali, his real, legal successor, established by the Prophet under Divine Commands, be given hearing? Rather, Divine curse shall be on them forever and hell to boot punishment in permanence.
4. For simply staying away from the crusade, three of them were secluded, their wives having left them and they had not an inch of ground to refuge them, when Divine Mercy took pity to accept their penance. What about deeds of grievous nature? Everyone should take a lesson.
Verses 119 – 122
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ {119}
119. Oh you faithful fear God and be with the truthful.
مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُمْ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّفُوا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ عَنْ نَفْسِهِۚ
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَئُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌۚ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ {120}
120. It is not fair for residents of Medina and Bedouins about Medina to stay away and thus disobey the Prophet of God and prefer rest for them to giving him (Prophet). This is because, if to them has reached the due pains of thirst due to heat and trouble due to fatigue, and huger and difficulty on the path of God, or not a step do they take, which enrages the infidels and not a profit accrues to the, from enemy but what is recorded for them, a virtuous act, and verily God is not going to waste reward of the obliging.
وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ {121}
121. And not a trifling or a heavy sum they spend nor a track of land they cross, but it is recorded for them, so God may reward them, at best, for their actions.
وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةًۚ
فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ {122}
122. And it is not necessary for all the faithful to go to acquire knowledge. Why should not a single, form each sect, should go to acquire religious knowledge so on return he may warn his sect in which they may fear God.
Moral
(1/119) God distinctly has ordered to follow the Immaculates. Divine Lights, whether there are present physically, are not available, for, in case of their absence, they are duly authorized to make arrangements to keep their followers from going astray.
(2/120) It is not fair before God if people prefer rest for self to that being given to God’s Prophet for every inch of pain appreciated by them, in the name of God, well get automatically recorded as a virtue in their name.
(3/122) As for deputing men to study Theology by leading him, God suggests each sect can nominate suitable applicant, capable of discharging this duty, and after being qualified, may serve, in the name of God, to warn those going astray and encourage the pious for future rewards.
Verses 123 – 129
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُمْ مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةًۚ
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ {123}
123. Oh you faithful fight with those infidels who are in your neighbourhood, they might appreciate your hardship, and know God is with the pious.
وَإِذَا مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًاۚ
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ {124}
124. And when any Surah is revealed, some of the say what is it which has increased your faith, those who are faithful get their faith strengthened and they are pleased.
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ {125}
125. Whereas those who have got diseased hearts, (state) it gets worse and they die infidels.
أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ {126}
126. Do they not see, they are being tried once or twice every year, they neither do penance nor take advice.
وَإِذَا مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَاكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُواۚ
صَرَفَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ {127}
127. When any Surah is revealed, some look at the others and they say, “Does anybody see you?” Then, they turn back. God has upset their hearts because they are a sect who do not understand.
لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ {128}
128. Verily, has come to you a prophet from amongst you which is not to your liking and he also feels it hard. The greatest desire with him is for “you to embrace faith and he is considerate and kind to the faithful.”
فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ
عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُۖ
وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ {129}
129. And if they still turn away, you say, “I trust in God without Whom there is no other God, I depend upon Him and he is Mighty Proprietor of the Throne.”
Moral
This universal Divine warning comes once or twice a year or so, in the shape of famine, floods, storms, earthquakes, plague, but few pay any heed thereto, having already neglected the Existence of God, thus they do neither penance, nor take any advice for the future. How ungrateful of them!
God has cursed disbelievers when they turn away after having revelations, despite having a Prophet, who is greedy to see then embrace faith.
Notes
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Author: Ali Muhammad Fazil Chinoy
